Iran's government is reportedly considering launching attacks on US military targets in Europe, including a British air base in Cyprus and Bulgaria's Bezmer air base, if President Donald Trump escalates the conflict. Sources close to Iran's government told the Financial Times that this threat was made after Trump declared the Strait of Hormuz as American territory, which Iran considers an escalation of tensions. Data from Kpler shows that only a fraction of vessels are currently passing through the strait compared to before the outbreak of war. The US and Iran have been at an impasse over lifting sanctions and releasing frozen assets, with no talks or conversations between the two nations scheduled.
Written by the local model on 2026-08-19,
using this article's own text rather than the other coverage of the
same event (that is the story summary below).
Why this leaning score
The article's own words the score was based on. Each is quoted
verbatim and was checked against the article text before being
stored, so you can find it in the original.
The score and its own evidence disagree: every quote above points
one way and the number points the other. One of them is wrong.
The confidence has been set to low for that reason.
Leaning score -0.40 for article 1200 (low confidence, 1 verified quote) · logged 2026-08-24
Iran is considering launching attacks on US military targets in Europe if President Donald Trump escalates the conflict, according to a report.
uncertain
Trump → consider → report
Sources close to Iran’s government told the Financial Times that potential targets included a British air base in Cyprus that was targeted by a drone in March.
asserted
that → tell → March
Other countries in southeastern Europe such as Bulgaria, which approved US access to its Bezmer air base for refuelling last month, were also weighed up as a potential target for strikes.
asserted
which → approve → strikes
It follows warnings that Tehran is considering switching to a “fully offensive” strategy, a senior Iranian official told Reuters on Monday.
asserted
official → follow → Monday
A deal between the US and Iran appears further away than ever as Trump declared the Strait of Hormuz as American territory on Tuesday.
asserted
Trump → appear → Tuesday
Sharing a bizarre map of the region with a large blue circle around the waterway, he declared the vital shipping route “NEW US territory” on Truth Social.
asserted
route → share → Social
Shortly after sharing the image, the US leader announced that there are “no talks or conversations going on, or scheduled with the Islamic Republic of Iran”.
asserted
leader → share → Iran
“The Naval Blockade remains in full force and effect,” he continued on the platform.
asserted
he → remain → platform
“The Hormuz Strait is open and operating.
asserted
Strait → operate → ?
All water mines have been removed or detonated.”
However, data shared by Kpler with The Independent shows that only ten vessels passed through on Monday, compared to 130 to 140 before the outbreak of war.
asserted
vessels → remove → war
Six commodity vessels crossed the strait on Tuesday, according to Kpler data seen by Reuters.
uncertain
vessels → cross → Reuters
Iran had earlier said the shipping route is to remain closed until the US meet the conditions agreed in an interim deal, according to Iran’s top negotiator Mohammed Bagher Ghalibaf in comments shared by state media.
uncertain
US → say → media
Conditions include lifting a marine blockade and sanctions as well as releasing Iran’s frozen assets.
asserted
Conditions → include → assets
Saudi Arabia’s Aramco resumed oil loading from inside the Strait last week with more waiting to load, according to shipping data and trade sources who spoke to Reuters.
uncertain
who → resume → Reuters
Tehran says it has reached an agreement with Oman over a plan for ships to transit the Strait and that they are now working to finalise details for a joint statement.
asserted
they → say → statement
Muscat has been working on a resolution to reopen shipping through the waterway, which passes through both countries.
asserted
which → work → countries
On Monday, the US leader threatened to launch an attack on Oman as a 60-day period to negotiate a ceasefire deal expired.
asserted
period → threaten → deal
“If Oman gets in the way, we’ll bomb the s**t out of them,” Trump said in an interview with Fox News, after reports Oman and Iran are working out their own solution to control the strategic waterway.
asserted
Oman → get → waterway
He was later asked if he was out of patience with Oman and told reporters: "No, I don't think they behaved very well, but we'd handle them very easily, just like we do other things."
asserted
we → ask → things
A deal appeared to be in sight after Iran and the US agreed to a 14-point memorandum of understanding brokered by Pakistan over two months ago.
asserted
Iran → appear → Pakistan
But the agreement collapsed last month over different understandings surrounding a clause on the Strait of Hormuz.
asserted
agreement → collapse → Hormuz
Iran attacked three commercial vessels passing through the Omani corridor of the waterway.
asserted
Iran → attack → waterway
The US almost immediately revoked sanctions relief on Iranian oil sales and US Central Command launched a wave of strikes on more than 80 military targets in response.
asserted
Command → revoke → response
Both sides accused the other of violating the ceasefire agreement.
asserted
sides → accuse → agreement
The fifth clause of the MOU states that the Islamic Republic of Iran will “make arrangements using its best efforts for the safe passage of commercial vessels, with no charge for 60 days only, from the Persian Gulf to the Sea of Oman, and vice versa.”
asserted
Republic → state → Oman
It adds: “The traffic of commercial vessels will immediately start, and considering the need for removing the technical and military obstacles, and de-mining by the Islamic Republic of Iran, will be instated within 30 days.”
asserted
traffic → add → days
The confusion arises over the next section, stating that both sides “will conduct dialogue with the Sultanate of Oman, to define the future administration and maritime services in the Strait of Hormuz, in discussions with other Persian Gulf Littoral States, in line with applicable international law and the sovereign rights of coastal states of the Strait of Hormuz.”
Iran says that this means that the governance of the strait remains under Iranian control and that passage without approval constitutes a violation but the US says that attacks on vessels are a violation of Tehran’s promise to allow commercial vessels unfettered access.
asserted
attacks → arise → access
